Page 17

Brody

Two months later

I loved a bye week. Having extra days to rest and recharge gave me life. Ezra’s friend Ross and his husband owned a cabin upstate, but they were away in Europe, and Ezra said they were happy to lend it to Dev and me. I’d rented a car, and following the GPS, I prepared for a drive upstate.

Dev called as I hit the Thruway. “I just got here. It’s gorgeous, but it’s already chilly.”

I changed lanes. “Guess you’ll have to keep my feet warm. And don’t hog the blankets.”

“Just get up here,” Dev growled in that husky voice that set my heart racing. “I’m gonna start a fire and get my surprise ready for you.”

“I should be there in about two hours. What’s my surprise?”

Dev laughed. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be one. See ya.”

Without giving me a chance to respond, he ended the call. Knowing Dev, it could be anything from a couples massage to a puppy. I took a swig from my cup of coffee and hit the accelerator. Three days alone with Dev. I couldn’t wait.

Less than two hours later, I pulled in front of the large wood-shingled cabin. It reminded me of the house I’d built but, as Dev had said, it was a damn sight colder up here. Tall pines shot to the sky, and evergreen bushes surrounded the area. The lights were on, and Dev’s Porsche was in the driveway. Anticipation rushed through my veins, and I pulled my duffel from the back seat and slammed the door shut.

Dev opened the door and waited. I took the steps two at a time and settled my mouth over his. He held me at my hips but didn’t grind his pelvis into me as he always did when we’d been apart for a while.

“God, you taste good.” I nuzzled into his neck. “Can’t wait to lick you all over.”

He shook with laughter. “Might wanna table that for a little while, studmuffin.” With a twinkle in his eye, he stepped aside. “Surprise.”

“Momma, what’re you doin’ here?” I picked her up and swung her in a circle. “How…when…?” I hugged her tighter.

“Dev flew me in and picked me up this morning. We drove straight from the airport.” She threw him a fond look. “Your husband is a speed demon.”

I glared at him. “You’re not supposed to drive recklessly with my mother in the car.”

He put up his hands. “I was never reckless. Just fast. Ms. Faith and I spent a lovely day stocking the fridge, then enjoyed a little picnic by the lake.”

“I can’t wait to see it.”

Momma let go of me. “I’ll bet it’s beautiful by moonlight. Why don’t you go show Brody? I think I’m gonna take a hot bath and get ready for dinner.”

Amusement danced in Dev’s eyes. “I always listen to your mother.”

I slid my arm over Dev’s shoulders. “Me too. Let’s go.”

Hand in hand, we walked outside and down the flat rock steps leading to the lake. The fiery rays of the setting sun reflected off the glittering surface of the water.

“Wow,” I breathed. “This is gorgeous. What a view.”

Dev kissed my cheek, his gaze as heated as the orange sky. “It sure is.” He tugged my hand. “This way.” We walked halfway around the lake to where another cabin sat concealed in the trees. He opened the door.

“What’s goin’ on?” I peered into the space, which was completely furnished. “Who owns this place, and why are you just walking inside?”

He flicked on a light. “Come in.”

It was a beautiful cabin, not as grand as the one we were staying in, but comfortable and homey, with a huge fireplace, a large open kitchen, and beams crisscrossing the soaring ceiling.

Dev leaned against the fireplace while I tried to figure out what was going on. “Why are we here?”

“Do you like it?”

“Well, yeah. What’s not to like?”

He pulled me near. “I rented it for us this weekend. After we have dinner with your mother, I have security coming to watch over that cabin, but we’re going to spend the night here.”

“Why?”

He nuzzled into my neck and I shivered, a groan slipping past my lips. “That’s why. I need to hear you scream my name, and much as I love your mother, I can’t have sex with her in the house.”

Laughter bubbled up from my chest. “Fair enough. And yeah, this place is really nice.”

“You’re really nice.” He kissed me, deep and searching. “And really beautiful. It’s gotten so crazy with the buildup to the playoffs that we haven’t been alone in weeks.”

Aside from his gorgeous face and ripped body, what initially attracted me to Dev was his fierceness, on and off the field. That total dedication allowed him to rise to the top. And as intense as he was about football, he was even more committed to showing his love for me in so many ways. This was one of them, and I loved him so much, it was almost painful.

“How do you always know the right thing to do?” I slid my fingers through his hair to anchor him close. My cheek rasped against his ever-present stubble. “I’ve missed you too, but I never would’ve thought to do this.” I kissed the side of his smiling mouth. “And thank you for bringing up Momma. I haven’t seen her since the wedding.”

“I know you. And I know what and who you love. It’s not a contest.” His lips were soft and warm as they moved over mine. “We’re both winners.”

Seven years later, and his kisses still excited me as much as that first time he’d surprised me by the firepit after our national championship. “Once the season ends, we should go down to the house and lock ourselves away from everyone.” He didn’t answer me, and I took a step away. “What’s wrong?”

“Don’t you ever get tired of hiding?”

“Of course. But what can we do? Are you willin’ to come out?”

He chewed his lip. “N-no. Not right before the playoffs. It would be too much of a distraction. But I gotta admit, it’s something that has been on my mind.”

I crossed my arms. “Yeah?” Hearing that wasn’t surprising. Over the years, it had always been Dev who’d spoken of his dissatisfaction with needing to hide his sexuality.

“I don’t know, Brody. I’ve won enough Super Bowls already. I don’t care about the money or shit like that. We’re almost thirty. I’m getting really tired of hiding us.”

“I am too,” I spoke softly. “I just don’t know what to say. I’m not ready to retire. I haven’t thought about what I can do with the rest of my life. I can’t sit and fish and play golf for the next fifty years or so.”

His green eyes blazed. “You can do anything you want.” He paced the room, and I let him walk it out, understanding this was his way of thinking things out in his head. Finally, he came to a stop in front of me. “Change of plans. With the bye week, we can take a trip home with your mother and check in and see how the shelter and center are working out. Stay a few days.”

We didn’t need to return until later in the week to start watching films and learning the playbook. The way my heart jumped at the thought, I knew Dev was right.

“You wouldn’t mind?”

A beautiful smile broke across his face. “Baby, as long as I’m with you, I don’t care where I am.”

Every time he said those words to me, he made the impossible happen—I fell even more in love with him.

“Guess we better tell Momma not to unpack yet.”

With a twinkle in his eyes, he popped the top of my jeans and unzipped me. “We have some time. I haven’t greeted you properly yet.”

**

Two days later, Dev and I walked into the shelter with armfuls of Kings signed merchandise to give away. We were greeted with hugs by all the staff. Leah, Janie’s sister, who worked there full-time, took us around to show us how much better the living conditions were now.

“And all the proper clothing for the adults to wear for job interviews has helped immeasurably. That and the school supplies for the kids…” Tears welled in her eyes. “You two have been incredible.”

“It’s not only us,” I explained. “The Kings organization is behind it as well, and there’s more help on the way. They’re planning on setting up a satellite office down here to make it easier for scouting and offer jobs to people who want to work for them here or who might be willing to relocate up north.”

As I spoke, Leah’s hand covered her mouth. “Oh, my goodness. That would change so many lives. Thank you.”

“We wanted something permanent we could help with, after our football days are over.”

“That’s not happening soon, I hope.” Troy wheeled himself over to us. “You guys are the best in the league.”

“Nah, ’course not,” I answered. “How the heck are you? How’s Amber and little Jimmy?”

“Amber’s working at the hair salon and doin’ great. Jimmy comes here after school, and I pick him up after I get off my shift.”

“Where’re you working now?” Dev asked.

“McPherson’s electrical supply. With my degree in electrical engineering and experience in the Army, I help with HVAC systems and industrial installations.”

“Great.”

“I was wondering about something, Dev. You got a minute?” Troy wheeled a little closer.

“Sure.”

I wondered what the exchange was about, but a tiny smile played along Dev’s lips.

“I haven’t had the chance to see you in a long time. Would you know anything about the mortgage on our house bein’ paid off?”

“Now why would I know that?” Dev adjusted the Kings cap on his head, but he didn’t fool me. The fact that he hadn’t mentioned doing something out of the goodness of his heart was typical Devlin Summers.

“Oh, I don’t know.” Troy chuckled. “Maybe we received a letter from the bank, stating our mortgage was paid in full and they had our free and clear title.”

“I’m sure a lot of people would want to help a hero veteran like yourself.” Dev continued his nonchalant approach.

Troy cocked his head. “While that may be true, a little birdie who was at the bank the afternoon of the rec center opening told me she saw you meeting with the bank manager, and magically, my mortgage was gone. Poof . Just like that.”

Dev grinned. “Ain’t it funny how things like that can happen?”

Troy covered his eyes for a second before speaking, his voice thick with emotion. “I can’t thank you enough. You have no idea how much it’s meant to us. You’ve changed our lives for the better.”

“Just take care of yourselves and Jimmy.” Dev extended his hand, and Troy shook his and mine. “That’s all we care about.”

We distributed the signed T-shirts, footballs, and pictures, then headed home for lunch. I put burgers on the grill, took out two beers, and joined Dev on the couch on the deck.

“That was a real nice thing you did for them. How come you never told me?”

“I don’t know. It just happened so quickly, like one minute I saw him and Amber at the center, talking about what they could and couldn’t afford, Troy still so worried about being home and in a wheelchair, and the next I was at the bank, paying off the mortgage. It seemed like the right thing to do.”

“You always tell me what a good person I am, but do you know how special you are?” I took the bottle from his hand and kissed him.

“I’m not. Anyone would’ve done it.”

Dev hated direct praise and would always push his good deed on someone else. I guessed it had to do with never receiving any positive reinforcement from his parents. He simply didn’t enjoy people telling him what a great person he was, or understand how to accept a compliment, but I was here to change that.

“But you were the one who did it. And I love you for it.”

“I love you too. I was thinking…”

“Uh-oh,” I joked, and he elbowed me.

“Very funny. I’m serious. What would you say about buying a house upstate where we stayed? I’d love to have something the two of us own together.”

I hadn’t thought about it, but I did love the area. “I’d like that. Especially after the season’s finished, it might be a nice place to escape to and hunker down for the winter.” I ran my bare foot over his. “Snowed-in in a cabin with you, a fire, and a heap of blankets? I could think of worse things.”

Dev’s face brightened. “Fantastic. If we call Ezra, he can contact a real estate agent and find us something, I’m sure.”

A thought struck me. “But how could we…both our names? Wouldn’t that raise red flags? People are bound to find out.”

He shrugged and took back his beer. “I mean, friends work together all the time. So to be sure, we’ll form a business together and let the corporation buy it.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “I’ll tell Ezra.”

Dev’s spontaneity was another thing I loved about him, but this was a large purchase, and I wasn’t used to spending money like that. When you grew up poor, it was hard to change that habit.

“You’re sure about this? You don’t think we should think about it?”

He set the phone on the deck railing. “I don’t need to think when it feels so right. I know.” He leaned in, cupped my cheek, and brushed his lips to mine. “Like kissing you in front of that fire. Best decision I’ve ever made.”